Warnings and Wildfires

  She says boss with a dirty eyebrow wiggle that made me laugh the first time she did it. Today, not so much.

  I don’t want to tell her what happened and have her judge me for once again making poor life choices. But the only other person I’d talk to about this is Bree and she’s in class now.

  “We kissed.”

  “Oh, wow.” She leans back on the counter giving me her full attention. “How workplace-sexual-harassment of him.”

  “Stop, it wasn’t like that.”

  “What was it like?”

  “Amazing and short.” I slick my tongue over my lower lip, remembering the feel of him against me before our interruption. “His daughter called.”

  Her jaw drops. “He has a kid?”

  Exactly. How have I known Sully all this time and not known he had a daughter? “Yeah, she lives in Florida, so he only gets to see her like once a month. So, he’s not interested in dating.”

  She tilts her head and stares at me for a second. “It’s hard not to respect that.”

  “I do. I mean, I want to, but I like him a lot. Maybe he just said it because he’s not interested.”

  “Then why did he kiss you?”

  Good question.

  One I don’t have an answer for.

  “You need a break,” Celia says after I explain where I’m headed.

  “Money’s tight enough. You shouldn’t have to keep supporting me.”

  Her face softens. “Honey, I’m managing the place now,” she says, gesturing to the small salon around us. “I’ve built up a bigger client base and I’m making more money than when you moved in with me. You don’t have to keep killing yourself. I can take care of the bills until you’re done with school.”

  Tears prick my eyes. My sister’s only four years older than me, but when I had nowhere else to go, she didn’t hesitate to take me in. At some point in my life, I want to repay her for everything she’s done for me. “At the rate, I’m going, I won’t be done any time soon, Celia.”

  She tsks and slips an arm around my shoulders, showing me more motherly concern than our own mother ever showed either one of us. “I’m so proud of you. You’re doing great. And you deserve a nice guy, who’s into you one-hundred percent.” She lowers her voice and squeezes me a little tighter. “So, maybe forget about Sully.”

  Not what I wanted to hear, but she’s probably right. “It’s hard when now I’m spending so much time with him.”

  “Do you like the job?”

  “I do,” I answer easily. “I think I’m actually helping him out and I’m good at it.”

  “Just…be careful. Don’t get carried away. And don’t let him mess with your heart.”

  “He’s not like that.”

  She rolls her eyes. “They’re all like that. Even the ones who seem nice.”

  Before I can offer another protest, she pats my back. “Hey, I’ll be at that training seminar this weekend. You can have my car. Why don’t you go visit Bree?”

  “Thanks. I’ll see what she’s up to.”

  “Good. You need to do something fun for a change.”

  “I do fun stuff.”

  “Making out with your boss doesn’t count.”

  I knew I would regret telling her about our kiss.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Aubrey can’t seem to stop staring at the clock. Probably my fault. She’s been uncomfortable around me since the other day.

  “Everything all right?” I ask.

  “I…do you mind if I leave a few minutes early? I need to make sure I catch the bus.”

  “What bus?”

  She heaves out an exasperated sigh. “To the college.”

  “I didn’t realize any buses ran out there.” Johnson County Community College is in a pretty rural area.

  “Well, there’s only one from downtown to the school in the afternoon and I need to be on it. Normally, I catch it from home.”

  “How long does that take?”

  “Forever.”

  “You take it home at night too?”

  “Sometimes. Usually, Celia picks me up.” She tilts her head. “Why?”

  Instead of answering her question, I nod at the clock. “Leave whenever you need to. No problem.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

  Back in my office, I send Jake a quick text to find out when he plans to drag his ass in here.

  He doesn’t respond, but fifteen minutes later he’s in my doorway.

  “What’s on fire?” he asks.

  “Nothing. Just need you to watch the place for a few minutes and start my four o’clock class.”

  “What the? Are you okay?”

  I get his concern. I never take off in the middle of the day.

  “Just cover for me.”

  “Yeah, I got your back.”

  “Thanks.”

  Aubrey’s on her way out of the locker room when I return to the floor. “Hey, ready to leave?”

  Her eyes widen. “You said it was okay.”

  Great, she thinks I’m going back on my word. “It’s cool. I’ll give you a ride.”

  She stops and her bag thunks on the floor at her feet. “What? Why?”

  Before answering, I lean over and grab her bag. “I don’t like the idea of you riding the bus alone.”

  Instead of following me, she crosses her arms over her chest. “Sully, you have a business to run. You don’t have time to waste driving me around.”

  I slip my arm around her shoulders, drawing her closer. “I’m the boss. I can do whatever I want. Jake’s gonna watch the place for me.”

  Reluctantly, she agrees and follows me out to the parking lot. Not that I give her much choice.

  “You can’t do this every week,” she says once we’re on the road.

  “Sure I can.”

  She shakes her head. “Why?”

  “I told you why. Stop arguing with me. Tell me about your classes.”

  That must not be a good subject either. She twists her fingers together and stares straight ahead. “I’m taking Intermediate Accounting.”

  Obviously a sensitive topic, so I try to be careful asking my next question. “And you don’t love it?”

  “I’m not good at it. It’s embarrassing because I’m supposed to be an accounting major.”

  “Supposed to be?”

  “My sister wants to open her own salon eventually, and we thought we’d go into business together. Since I’m scary with scissors in my hands, I thought I could do the books and stuff.”

  Lucky Celia. If only Jake had half the desire to help out some days. “Good plan.”

  “Well, it was. But I suck at it.”

  “Maybe you have a crappy teacher.”

  She hmms and turns to stare out the window.

  “What else are you taking?”

  “Business Communications. Now that I’m actually good at.” She huffs out a sad laugh. “I always wanted to be an English teacher.”

  “So why aren’t you doing that?”

  I’m expecting an ordinary excuse like lack of money.

  “It’s…” she hesitates for so long, I glance over at her. “A long story. I sort of lost my joy for writing and stuff.”

  The sudden sadness that surrounds her makes me wish I’d kept my nosy questions to myself.

  A few minutes later the low stone sign in front of the college’s campus comes into view.

  “What time are you done?”

  “Celia will pick me up,” she answers quickly as if she’s afraid I plan to return. Well, actually I was considering it.

  Her fingers hover over the door handle for a second before she turns toward me. “Thank you so much. I really appreciate the ride.”

  “Any time.”

  The urge to kiss her rears up and I tighten my hands on the steering wheel.

  “See you tomorrow.”

  “Can’t wait,” I say as she closes the door.

  It’s true too. As much as I find myself trying to figure Aubrey out, I a
lso realize how much I like spending time with her.

  I’m twitchy with leftover nerves from being alone with Sully, but smiling for the same reason when I close the door to his Jeep. Like a silly teenager, I turn and wave as he drives off. I can’t believe he left work in the middle of the day to drop me off at school.

  He’s impossible to figure out. And I probably shouldn’t read too much into his kind gesture. One little kiss and a pity lift to school doesn’t change the fact that we’re nothing more than employer-employee.

  I wasn’t lying about my Intermediate Accounting class. I hate it. The semester has barely gotten started and no matter how hard I try to pay attention to the lecture on Inventory Valuation Methods, I’m lost.

  How am I going to survive this class?

  Business Communications is a different matter. Our long-term project involves developing a strategic communication plan for a local business. I have an advantage here since I work for two different local businesses. Do I have the guts to ask Sully if I can use Strike Back as part of my project? Or should I just ask Brantley, my manager at Busy Beans? Strike Back could benefit from it more. Plus, I already have a hundred different ideas running around in my head.

  “Hey, Aubrey!” a girl calls out as I’m leaving class. “I thought I saw you earlier.”

  Ah, Bree’s friend, Emily. We’ve only hung out a few times, so it takes me a second to place her. “If I looked like I was about to cry leaving accounting, it was me.”

  She chuckles. “Do you want to grab lunch?”

  As I’m about to answer, my phone buzzes.

  Brantley: We’re slammed. Can you come in and work this afternoon?

  Me: If I can find a ride, yes.

  Brantley: I’ll feed you.

  Me: Promises, promises.

  “Ugh.” I glance up at Emily. “I’ll buy you lunch if you can give me a ride to my part-time job.”

  She smiles. “Sure. I hate the food here anyway.”

  We catch up on the way to Busy Beans. Well, she fills me in on her life, and I listen.

  “Have you seen Professor Martin? I definitely want to take advantage of his evening office hours.”

  An uneasy sensation rolls through me. “No thanks. My grades are bad enough right now without risking getting kicked out of school.”

  She glances over. “I think it’s more of a risk for the teacher than the student.”

  I snort and shake my head. I’m kind of being a drag, aren’t I? I force a smile. “Guess I need to check him out.”

  By the time we arrive at Busy Beans, I’m exhausted. Emily takes “bubbly personality” to a new level.

  The coffee shop’s packed. I slip behind the counter and loop my apron around my neck, understanding Brantley’s desperation.

  “Thank you so much, sweet pea,” he says, air-kissing my cheek as he sweeps past me. “You’re a life-saver.”

  “Anything for a buck, Bran-man, you know that.” I nod at Emily. “I owe my friend lunch for giving me a ride, though.”

  “I’ll take care of her.” He shoves me in front of the cash register. “You take care of this line.”

  I work on thinning the impossibly long line of people waiting to order coffee and pastries for the next hour.

  They just keep coming.

  Emily waves on her way out and I thank her again for the ride. “Next week!” she shouts.

  The pennies clattering into the tip jar every now and then make me question whether coming in on my night off was a good idea.

  Pennies. That’s what’s on my mind when the next customer steps up and orders three blueberry muffins to go.

  Something about his voice makes me glance up. A slow smirk spreads across his face as if he’d been waiting for me to recognize him.

  “Griff? Right?” I ask, waving my fingers in a half-hearted hello.

  “The one and only.” He hands over a twenty and tells me to keep the change. I’d like to say I stuff it in the tip jar, but since I’m pretty sure Griff came to specifically see me, it goes right in my apron pocket.

  He follows on the other side of the counter as I step away from the register to grab a bag and fill his order.

  “You work two jobs?” he asks.

  “And go to school.”

  He lets out a low whistle, that might seem mocking coming from anyone else, but I get the feeling he understands my situation more than he’s making fun of it.

  “Busy girl.”

  “Thank you, Captain Obvious,” I say, handing over the brown bag. His mouth twitches and he jerks his head to the side. “Do you have a minute?”

  A glance up shows the line of customers has dwindled to nothing.

  I catch Brantley’s eye. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Go on,” he encourages with a wink aimed at Griff.

  I whip off my apron and slip through the low, swinging door separating me from the rest of the cafe.

  Up close, Griff doesn’t seem threatening. He’s big, sure. Everyone’s big compared to me. But he keeps a respectable distance and his gaze sticks to my face. “I’m not sure what Sully told you, but I really can help you out with your money situation.”

  Given the nature of Griff’s business, I’m not sure if the information Sully shared is supposed to be spread around. “How? Are you a pimp?”

  He snorts. “No. You ever watch boxing, or MMA, or wrestling? Anything like that?”

  “Sure. Once or twice.”

  He twirls a finger in the air. “The girls who walk the ring, holding up the signs. Encouraging the crowds. That’s what I need you for.”

  “Need me? You don’t even know me.”

  “You’re mouthy. That’s a plus.”

  I narrow my eyes.

  “Jake says you’re a good girl, need the cash, and can keep your mouth shut.”

  “Ahh, there it is. This isn’t legal.”

  “Gray area,” he says, waving off my concern.

  “There have to be dozens of taller, prettier girls around who would be into the whole bad-boy-danger experience. Why are you so interested in me?”

  He drops his smile and sweeps his gaze over me. “Don’t sell yourself short.” Yes, he adds a smirk to that one. “Seriously though. One of our regular girls is out of town and another one is sick.”

  “I’m not interested in spending the night prancing around in my underwear in front of a bunch of testosterone-pumped knuckle-draggers. Sorry.”

  Griff’s not even insulted. “Doesn’t have to be underwear.” One corner of his mouth curls up. “A nice, tight, short dress will do.”

  I glare at him.

  “We look after our girls. Nothing’s gonna happen to you. Jake’ll be there. He definitely won’t let anyone near you.”

  Interesting that Jake’s planning to attend when his brother has such strong opinions on this subject.

  Or maybe Sully just didn’t want me there?

  Because he’s genuinely worried about me or he’s jealous?

  Not the last one. That’s insane.

  “Hundred and fifty,” he offers, raising his earlier offer.

  Tonight, if I’m lucky, I’ll go home with sixty dollars and sore feet.

  A hundred and fifty bucks is a lot of money to me at the moment.

  “It’s fun. A lot of girls think it’s exciting,” Griff encourages. “Girl like you probably has a lot of questions.” He wiggles his fingers in a “give it to me” sort of gesture. “Hit me.”

  “Do you ever have any girl fighters?” pops out of my mouth first.

  The question seems to take him by surprise. He cocks his head. “Actually yes. Anyone who pays up can go in the ring.”

  Huh. I didn’t really expect an answer and definitely not that answer.

  “Does anyone ever get seriously injured?”

  Another question that he apparently didn’t see coming. What kind of girls usually work for him? “Yeah. We have a guy with medical training at the fights. Any injuries above his skill-level get dropped off at
the hospital.”

  Dropped off sounds more like dumped, but what do I expect?

  “A hundred and fifty dollars?” I ask to be sure.

  “In cash.” He nods, all serious businessman now. “At the end of the night.”

  We stand there staring at each other for a few minutes before I let out a breath. “Okay.”

  “Fantastic. Thank you.”

  “When and where?”

  “I’ll text you with the address a couple hours before. Need you there by nine-thirty. Usually breaks around two in the morning.”

  We exchange numbers and Griff thanks me again before bouncing out the door with his bag of muffins.

  I can’t stop thinking how mad Sully’s going to be.

  He’s made it abundantly clear we’re only employer-employee.

  So why does disappointing him bother me so much?

  CHAPTER NINE

  Aubrey’s trying to kill me.

  Today, she showed up to work in a bright red polo shirt and tiny black stretchy shorts. As if she’s read my damn mind and knew exactly what would drive me insane.

  The outfit isn’t inappropriate.

  Unless you’re a perv like she’s apparently turned me into.

  Jake strolls in around noon, bumping into my shoulder as he stops dead. He squints at Aubrey. “Is she carrying her cell phone in her back pocket?”

  Shaking myself out of my latest dirty fantasy involving Aubrey, me, and one of the locker room benches, I mumble, “I don’t think so, why?”

  “Because that fine, curvy little ass of hers is calling me.”

  Christ, why didn’t I see that coming? “You’re a dick. Don’t you dare say that to her.”

  He’s laughing so hard, he can barely speak. “I just said it. To get. You going. You should see. The way you’re drooling. Over her.”

  I throw the heel of my hand into his shoulder, knocking him back a few feet. Unfortunately our antics draw Aubrey’s attention our way. She smiles and waves at Jake, then returns to whatever she’s doing on the computer.

  “Seriously,” he says after catching his breath. “For a tiny girl, she’s—”

  “Knock it off, would ya?”

  “What?” He throws his arms in the air and turns in a circle. “It’s a professional observation.”